If you’re wondering what to do on the island of Armona, you’ve come to the right place. During our stay in the Algarve, we spent 3 days in Olhão exploring the Ria Formosa Natural Park, and chose to explore the island of Armona.
Even in the middle of August, the island was surprisingly wild, far from the hustle and bustle you can sometimes experience elsewhere in the Algarve. In this article, we explain why we chose the island of Armona and share our tips for making the most of it.
Where is the island of Armona?
Ilha da Armona (Armona Island) is one of the barrier islands in the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a vast and magnificent natural area on Portugal’s southern coast.
It lies opposite Olhão, alongside other emblematic park islands such as Culatra Island, Farol Island and Barreta (or Deserta) Island.
Once you’re there, like us, you’ll probably hesitate between the different islands.
For our part, we chose Armona because the island is entirely car-free, it was absolutely quiet even in the middle of August, and also because the ferry timetable suited us.
👉 Read our article dedicated to the Ria Formosa Natural Park with all our advice to help you organize your stay.
What to do on the island of Armona?
After all, there’s not much to do on the island, and that’s part of its charm. From the landing stage, it’s all on foot:
- Strolling through the village
We loved strolling through the colorful houses, flower-filled courtyards and sandy alleyways. Although we’re used to living on an island, since we live on the Ile d’Oléron, as soon as we set foot on the ground we immediately felt out of place and found the island super soothing. - Explore the lagoons and marshes
Leaving the heart of the village behind, you pass through the lagoons and marshes typical of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, with their clear waters and birdlife. The landscape changes rapidly and nature takes over. - Enjoy a beach session on the ocean
Following the wooden footbridges at the end of the village, after the bar/restaurants, we came upon a beach with immense, wild, translucent water. The only downside was that the water was a little cool for swimming, even in high summer (18 degrees max). That’s why we recommend a hotel with a swimming pool.
⛵ A final option for discovering the island is to take a cruise through the Ria Formosa Natural Park from Olhão. Another way to explore Armona and the lagoon’s landscapes, which we’ll tell you more about below.
Information and bookings from Olaho for a cruise in the Ria Formosa Natural Park (more on this below).
How do I get to the island of Armona?
Ferries depart directly from the port ofOlhão and take around 15 minutes to reach the island.
In June and September, departures take place approximately every two hours, and every hour in July and August, with a final return from the island in the early evening.
🎟️ Full fare approx. €4 return (no need to book, even in summer)
We recommend buying the return ticket on departure, as the ticket office was not open on the island.
A cruise to discover the island of Armona from the water
To complete the visit, discover Armona from the water, giving you another perspective on the lagoon.
❤️ We recommend this 3-hour boat trip in the Ria Formosa, which takes you along the islands and gives you a better understanding of the park’s unique geography, with the guide’s explanations in French. We were able to observe a large number of birds, including flamingos, egrets, herons…
🎟️ Departure from Olaho: info and booking here for a 3-hour cruise in the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
🎟️ Departure from Faro: 3-hour cruise in the Ria Formosa Natural Park.
Practical tips for visiting the island of Armona
- Check ferry schedules before you leave
- Book your round-trip ticket
- Choose an early departure in high season
- Bring water, hat and sunscreen, especially in summer.
- Everything is done on foot: you can even leave in flip-flops or summer sandals without worrying
- Respect the environment, as the island is part of a protected natural area
💦 S leeping in Olhão to explore the park and islands for more peace and authenticity, we booked 2 nights atHotel Cidade de Olhão because we wanted a pool, breakfast included and a hotel in a good location.
We loved our stay, and the swimming pool is a real plus, as it was very hot during our stay and especially so with the heat during our stay, especially as the ocean didn’t exceed 17 degrees, even in the middle of summer.
Information and booking for theHotel Cidade de Olhão from 80€ per night
We’ll soon be continuing this series of articles dedicated to the Algarve, a region we’ve adored for its diversity, landscapes and art of living, and of which we still have plenty of corners and experiences to share.
Don’t hesitate to drop us a line below to let us know if you’re planning this trip, to ask any questions you may have or to share on social networks(our Instagram) we’ll get back to you with great pleasure!
Before you leave, find all our articles to help you organize your trip:
- 🛏️ Where to sleep in the Algarve? our best addresses
- 🗺️ Itinerary for your Algarve road trip?
- 🚗 Car rental in Faro in the Algarve: our tips and advice
- Visit the villages of Lagos, Armaçao de Pêra, Alvor, Albufeira and Olaho
- 🌊 Visit the must-see Benagil cave
- ⛵ How to visit the cliffs of Ponta da Piedade? by boat and on foot
- 🦩 What to do in Portugal’s Ria Formosa natural park and islands?
